Review Article

Radiation Accidents: Occurrence, Types, Consequences, Medical Management, and the Lessons to be Learned

István Turai1,2 and Katalin Veress3

1 “Frédéric Joliot-Curie” National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, “Fodor József” National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
2 International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
3 Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Corresponding author: Assoc. Prof. István Turai, MD, MPHM, PhD
    IAEA, POB.200,
    A-1400 Vienna, Austria
    E-mail: I.Turai@iaea.org

CEJOEM 2001, Vol.7. No.1.:3-14

Key words:
radiation accidents, causes of radiation accidents, diagnosis, education and training

Abstract:
The paper reviews the frequency, causes and occurrence of radiation accidents with some significant exposure to human. More detailed information is provided in tabulated form on the health consequences of those twenty severe radiation accidents that occurred in 1986-2000, world-wide. Reference is given to the very low cumulative incidence of significant radiation accidents, as during the last 57 years there were, in average, seven registered accidents annually in all countries of the world. Thus, the chance for most of the physicians to meet a patient with symptoms of acute radiation injury during their professional career is very low. Nevertheless, the probability of a case of radiation injury should not be ruled out, and hence, each physician has to have some basic knowledge to recognize and initially respond to radiation injuries. The paper aims at providing the key statistical data and information on these aspects, pointing to the necessity of strengthening the regular undergraduate and postgraduate training in radiohygiene and radiation medicine in all continents, but in particular in Central and Eastern Europe, where unauthorized possession and even smuggling of radiation sources is not uncommon which may result in accidental radiation injuries.

Received:  19 February 2001
Accepted:  03 March 2001
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